HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY

Tomorrow is a non-working holiday for us teachers and so the centre is closed as here in Singapore, Teacher’s Day is celebrated every 1st of September. So, I have a whole day rest from work and from my studies.

So to all teachers out there, Happy Teacher’s Day!!!


It is quite interesting to play both the role of an educator and a student at the same time. At least at this time I relearn how it feels to be a student. Do I like my lecturers too, the same as my children may like me? Well, with young children, if they express that they like me, it is the truth. For according to Angela Ashwin, children often get things right. They often see the goodness in things because they have not learned to be cynical. Now, do I see my lecturers with a heart and a thinking of a child? Oh…..

It was months ago when I read about the complaints of students from NUS. If I understand it right, they were complaining about their foreign lecturers who could not pronounce English words properly. My initial reaction then was of indifference to those university students. How could they just not be thankful for those foreigners who had their doctorate in first class overseas universities who had Singapore as their choice to impart their knowledge? But surely, you could not just judge people unless you are on their shoes.

Imagine me now, with a lecturer who has a doctorate from USA who pronounce child as “chai”. God, I wanna die. Forgive me, forgive me. I know I am not perfect and others are not perfect too. But hearing “chai” every time, I am thankful it is Teacher’s Day tomorrow.

Maybe next year..

It is sad that you'll not be with us this early. Maybe next year. I hope. I hope......

Thinking Patterns and Quotations

I just finished reading Dr. Dawna Markova’s book titled How Your Child is Smart. It was a nice read for I gained a lot of information on how to identify a child’s thinking pattern. I believe that it is of key importance to know a child’s thinking and learning pattern for it will help parents and teachers alike on how to help a child learn according to how his mind works and to the best of his abilities.

According to Dr. Markova, there are six thinking patterns. They are:

“The Leaders of the Pack”. They are natural powerhouses who learn by teaching others. They tend to have difficulty learning how to read and write though they have extensive speaking vocabularies.

“Movers and Groovers”. They use their bodies in order to learn. They are athletes and are labeled to be hyperactive. Reading and writing may be so difficult for them.

Show and Tellers”. They learn best through reading and light up when telling stories. They are natural persuaders, good students but shy away from sports.

“Seer/Feelers”. They prefer working in groups. They are empathetic children who learn best by doing what they are shown and asking endless questions.

“Verbal Gymnasts”. They love facts, history and idea of all kinds who have to talk in order to understand. They are effective and articulate communicators whose words pour out in logical order. But sports may be difficult for them.

“Wandering Wonderers”. They learn best in solitude and are so called quiet Einsteins. They can learn physical tasks easily without verbal instruction. They can also become overwhelmed by listening.

Based on the above patterns, which one best describe your child or even you?

Aside from knowing those thinking patterns, I also like the book because of the quotations in every chapter. Here are some quotations I like.

“We are all so different largely because we all have different combinations of intelligences. If we recognize this, I think we will have at least a better chance of dealing appropriately with the many problems that we face in the world.” By Howard Gardner.

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they’re capable of doing.” By Goethe.

“The real teacher, in fact, lets nothing else be learned than- learning.” By Martin Heidegger.

“Education is not filling a vessel, but lighting a fire.” By Carl Jung.

Intervene before it's too late....

Just last Monday, I finished doing my developmental profile, a written assignment for my module. As I observed my subject with much interest, I told myself that I had to come up to a recommendation best fitted for him. So, I quoted some of the principles and findings of Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D from his book Before It’s Too Late for my recommendation on how to help my subject further.

Reading Dr. Samenow's book made me ponder not only as an early childhood educator but on how I did my role as a mother to my children then. I could say that I did my best and is very thankful that at this stage, my children grew up to be successful persons in their own rights. But of course, nobody’s perfect. There may be a lot of things that I overlooked or some things that I should have done. Whatever the case may be, I am sure that life may have been much better for me if I had known some of his findings on how to step in- early and effectively in dealing with my own children’s feelings and behaviour.

Way back in the Philippines in my immediate environment, I had seen many instances where mothers and fathers have been shouted on their faces by their own children. I had heard of those bossy, one-sided, and dictatorial children. And hearing what happened to them now, made me feel sad for those wasted lives. Surely, if those parents had realized that those behaviour manifestations were not “just a phase” but a pattern of “a child headed for trouble”, maybe those children’s lives may be not as trouble some as it is now. May be those demanding children may not turn up to be monsters who bore children with different men or who became mistresses and are proud of it or to say shortly, antisocial or delinquents.

Dr Samenow emphasized that parents of antisocial children must combine with love and caring, stern measures that, at times, are at odds with their own concepts of good parenting. With an institution of a tough-yet loving- approach to assist a particular type of child, the child will develop an enduring sense of self-worth and self-respect.

Though of course, we cannot predict with certainty whether a particular two- year old or a six year old will grow out of being self-centred and demanding for in most boys and girls, childlike egocentric thinking does give way to an awareness of and sensitivity to others, still parents must be observant of children who persist in acting as though other people exist only to gratify their needs. By this, we may have helped a certain child in being on the road to delinquency.

So let us start now to observe our children and be alert to recognize as early as possible the traits of antisocial children. We must learn how to help those kids to accept responsibility for their actions. Let us act now before it’s too late.

Good Times...Good Days...

This birthday card was given to my husband by his company's President & CEO through their AVP. It was given so early for his birthday is days more; on the 16th. I told my husband that he needs to treat them for dinner. Pero kuripot yata talaga.

Pero teka, naunahan pa nila akong bumati ha!

Kaya eto, I am posting this now.

Advanced Happy Birthday to my husband!!

I hope you'll see this post there. (He's in that part of Indonesia visiting the vendor for some parts inspection for the materials in their Power Plant project in Vietnam.) I hope for your safe return tomorrow.

And speaking of the good times, oh, I remember our three years in Hong Kong. Tuen Mun will always be a part of our memorable and happy days together both as a couple and as parents to our children. Just look and reminisce the good old days......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

And looking forward to our more good days with our grandchildren............

Project Approach

After our workshop in the centre yesterday, we teachers decided on making a project of changing the decors on our glass panel divider/window. The moment we agreed on the theme Under the Sea, we immediately went to work. We collaborated on choosing the right colours, drawing, cutting and pasting. So in two hours time (and that includes jokes and anecdotes about almost everything from children to parents), we were able to finish our project.

We were so proud of our final product. That was why we took photos. Look at the photos above. Nice, isn’t it? My photos reveal the happiness that radiates from our faces.

Just think. If we adults are proud of something we have done, how much more our children? So to build up your children’s creativity and self esteem encourage them to do project work. And you’ll be amazed of the social skill, language skills, cognitive skills including problem solving and thinking skills that they may surely acquire in the process.

So why not start a project approach with your children now? Take it from us, all early childhood educators!

Happy 41st

We had an early National Day celebration in the centre last Friday. You see, on the 9th of this month, Singapore will celebrate its 41st birthday. And so the children aside from singing the National Anthem and doing the pledge had a great time singing all those National Day songs.

After our mini program, we had our giant jelly making of the national flag. The children are really children for the celebration may not be the best centre celebration I had participated in my whole life as an educator here, still I saw the joys that glowed from the children's eyes. Experiencing the relevance of the national symbols in songs and dances and in cookery lessons,made them more proud as little Singaporeans.

When I went to my course at 6.30 that day, my lecturer asked her captive audience if they are really willing to die for Singapore. Will they emigrate in the future if and if?

I really could not understand some people. Here they have a nice life where the government take good care of the children, the family and the community but some are still unsatisfied. The saying that people are really in constant search for something they do not have is really true.

I had resided and had visited different countries. I gained different perspectives. Maybe that's the reason why I am appreciative of what I have now. Maybe if some people will realize how lucky they are, maybe they'll be more appreciative.

For me, Singapore is still a nice place to live. I may like Hong Kong. I may love America. I surely am proud of the Philippines. I am a Filipino. But Singapore is my home.

Happy 41st birthday Singapore!!

Consolation

When my family was still residing in Woodlands, it was just common for me to be greeted by parents whenever they see me. Of course it made proud for I used it as a gauge on how effective I was as a teacher and in my relationships with the children and with their parents.

My husband’s auntie who spent a month’s vacation with us could not believe that parents would greet me even when we were in a hawker centre or in Causeway Point. Having the perception that Singaporeans are unfriendly people and that they tend to look down on a person of my race for obvious reason that most of the Filipinas here are domestic helpers, she always did ask me if the one who greeted was really a Singaporean. She could not believe that a Singaporean could be so appreciative of me.

Well, my husband’s auntie may have given the reason for others to look down at her too, because she herself had this perception that it was unrealistic for other races to accept us as persons or even as a teacher at that. How could she forget that we, Filipinos are as educated as others?

I accept the truth that at first, parents may be reluctant to accept me as their children’s teacher. That was why I did my part. I showed them that I was not just a teacher from another country but a teacher who has a passion for teaching. In my own ways, I proved to them that teaching and learning is universal.

And so whenever somebody greets me in places, I humbly reason that they were just fruits of my labour. They were just consolation and a joy in my person that no money can buy.

But over here in Yew Tee, I got no parents to greet me. I am now working in another place and of course, nobody knows me here. At times, I really miss Woodlands. For over there, there were smiling faces that made my day easier and happy. How would you react if the hawker would every time give you more but cheaper food because she had known you to be a teacher? Ohh, how I miss Woodlands!

I was thinking that way this early morning when a mother with her son greeted me and said: “You are Ms. Luchie, right?” I looked at her son’s uniform and saw his name Kenneth Kh…”Oh my! You are so big now!” and hugged him.

Imagine that! It was seven years ago and they still remember me. I was so happy, really happy. And I am proud that Kenneth is now studying in a very good school, ACS.

So, I may not be earning that much but I am earning respect, recognition and love from children and parents. That is a consolation that is incomparable. What do you think?